Hill Top

Well - having finally got this old ibook G3 to work,I thought,as I'm in the lake district I ought to dedicate a song to Beatrix Potter.Hill Top is the name of the house just across the lake in Sawrey where she wrote Peter Rabbit.

When the long summer days are buzzing like a lazy bee
And I can hear Peter Piper call
I am climbing through the branches of the apple tree
To see the land beyond the ivy wall
Where Benjamin dances along the hill
On the sunny side of time
And Pig-Wig snuffles in the acorn swill
Just a goosey gander rhyme
Of flying into the heaven of a blue sky
Where the water tumbles free..

When the wildflowers rustle in the evening sun
Across Sawrey near and far
Tabatha twitches as the fieldmice run
I'm looking for the northern star
Well I've been a wondering all these years
Where I might lay to rest
These schoolboy,paintbox,picturebook fears
Always struggling to make the best
Of what the twisted hands of father time have given
I'm a silver salmon leaping upstream...

When the fire is burning low on midsummers eve
I think about all the years
The smiles on the faces I've hda to leave
The laughter and the tears
We farm the land,we sew the corn
To keep the wolves from the door
Never felt such magic inside before
Until I travelled North
To the heart of the emerald forest
Where the rainbow dances with the storm...

Dedicated to the life of Beatrix Potter and the beauty of the Lake District
Written/Recorded at Orrest Head,Windermere by RG Paddler (Richard Gray)
copyright 2007 by RG Paddler

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Thanks I haven't seen the film yet but you know - just thought I'd jump on the bandwagon.I happened to cycle past her house a couple of days ago though and there was a traffic jam in the middle of nowhere - coaches n crowds,not the tranquil place as described!

Ooh, lots of strings!
Balalaika eh? Blimey! I don't recall hearing one of those on MacJams before. I love the jangliness.

It does sound very English, and yet it's got its own unique personality. There's a very nice sweetness in all those strings and in your singing, and you always seem to evoke a lot of imagery with your lyrics. A beautifully fresh and natural performance too. Lovely stuff!

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Thanks Rebsie - I'm liking this word 'fresh' - I dont feel very fresh what with such sweaty socks and only having one pair of trousers but hey - the music is my disguise.Dont worry though I'd shower especially for you if the oppurtunity ever arose - in essence of turnip.Love your latest song by the way sea shanties rock

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jgurner - the stories of pooh were my favourite as a kid - the little pencil sketches were just magical.Ashdown forest was the inspiration for A.A Milne down in the SouthEast - its a beautiful place

Thanks Faelin - the ibook is still giving me grief - I didnt get the installer Cd's with it so it doesn't work quite as it should.Oh well the show must go on

Hey Richard
there is an "Always have exsisted" quality to your music... when hearing it for the first time, it's as if we are going through the attic, and pulling out these old records... earthy and brilliant... great attention paid to melody and structure/flow...

the low-fi sound of the intruments also lend to that old classic vibe... I love that walking bottom part in the guitar

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Thank you sir! I gotta admit that old sound isnt accidental - it comes from quite a few basic influences some of which are really cheezy - the barbarella soundtrack,macarthur park as sung by Richard Harris,the Wicker man soundtrack and a few other bits n bobs - songs like 'lifes a long song' j tull,and you and i - yes to name a few - there are certain chord progressions they used in the 60's n 70's that I just fell in love with i think.To hear you recognise that is wonderful

Smiling from ear to ear!
You get such 'THIS is the way music should sound' out of a balalaika and a guitar (along with your voice and your handclaps). You are gifted in the mixing department as well as the writing and performing aspects. This is a beautiful tribute to Beatrix Potter as well as just a lovely song!

This was an actual joy to listen to
You have such a whimsy feeling hear. When I hear something special like this I feel there is somebody inside me trying to do a march but in time of your music. That is when you KNOW there is something special goin on here with this song. It's like this song could be a movie theme of maybe something like Tom Sawer travelin to a discovery in the beautiful mountains a singin his heart out. And there are hollywood camera following his every happy dance step. And they hired the best actor that could sing broadway stage, but in hobo style.

;sorry, got carried away but it is that good! I love songs like this that are that good that you can really drift into an imaginary play in your mind. Wow

Cool paddler
came over cause of your forum. Long forum...but for some strange reason kept my interest.
The tune is real. I love the strumming. Kind of a lost art with all the digital rhythms going on here and there.
Nice lyrics and vocal delivery.
I would have mixed the bass (or is that another guitar in the back of the mix) up more MHO
a great sounding tune. gonna check out more asap
peace
tim